3rd Annual Policy Pitch Competition

Returning Ford School master's and BA students completing summer internship experiences reflected on their internship experience and celebrated the start of the upcoming school year.

Presenters delivered pitches highlighting their internship organization, policy interest areas, policy impact and engagement, skills gained and takeaways from their internship as they move forward with their careers. Presented virtually this year.

A celebrity panel of judges determined a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize. New last year was an audience prize, selected by audience members.
 

Student Pitch Participants:

Clary Baudraz, Save The Children
Eli Gold, Soulardarity 
Dylan Horwitz, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
Emma Kern, Hawai'i Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice
J'Taime Lyons, Durham Children's Initiative
Safiya Merchant, City of Detroit
Nathaniel Ojo, The International Institute for Strategic Studies 
Karolina Ramos, The Aspen Institute
Hannah Rosenfeld,  U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
Mariatu Santiago, Univ. of the Virgin Islands RT Park
Mariam Sayeed, Direct Relief
Kalena Thomhave, Institute for Policy Studies 
 

Judges:

Katie Hall (MPA '13), Founder/CEO, Claira, former Director of The Competency Project, Director of Communications at Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, past LA at the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Brandy Johnson (MPP '09), Policy Advisor, Postsecondary Education & Workforce Development, Executive Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Former teacher, Policy Advisor for Governor Jennifer Granholm, and Executive Director of the Michigan College Access Network.

Daniel Rivkin, Senior Media & Outreach Strategist-Ford School. Former news correspondent,  Bureau Chief-Reuters, Director of Strategic Broadcasting-World Television, news platform founder, owner/Managing Director RMedia Ventures 

Alma Wheeler Smith, graduated from the U-M and served in the Michigan Legislature for 14 years. She has served as an Ann Arbor Cablecasting Commissioner, South Lyon Community Schools Board of Education Trustee and President, Washtenaw County Commissioner, and chair of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission.  Smith currently serves on the board of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan, the University Bank Board of Directors, the Michigan Campaign Finance Network and the Michigan Legislative Retirement System

• Policy Pitch Competition